Did you start your crocheting with the Traditional Granny Square?
Ok, time to think back, when do you remember seeing your first Granny Square? I not going to date myself by saying what year it was because I honestly don’t remember, but I can remember, as a little girl, seeing a basket filled with these colorful squares at my grandmother’s house. I don’t know if they every got made into anything but I remember seeing stacks of them. I also remember my sister making them, but not me, I was sporting a baseball glove and hat most days. My crochet “career” did not start with the Granny Square, nor did it start as a child, but I’m sure it did for many people. If not…here we go!
A traditional granny square is great for beginners since it only requires you know a double crochet and the chain…and we all started with the chain. Let’s go through the process of how we are going to create our first granny square. (There is a link to a video below if you prefer to watch.)
There are two different ways to start the Granny Square and either one is just fine so you choose what works best for you. While the start is much different the end result only has one small difference which I’ll point out when we get there.
Starting your Granny Square - Technique 1
The most common way to start a Granny Square is with a chain of 4. Once you make your chain you will put your hook into the 1st chain, put your yarn on your hook and pull it through both the chain and and loop on your hook. You’ve now created a loop which will be used to start your square using the instructions which are the same for both techniques.
Starting your Granny Square - Technique 2 (slightly trickier)
I’m not sure who invented it but there is this method called the “magic loop” or “magic circle”. It is a second option for starting your project when you are working your crochet “in the round”. I am always honest with you and will admit I’ve struggled with this, I’ve watched videos over and over again and have found that sometimes it works and sometimes I can not seem to get it to work. Well I analyzed what was being done and came up with my own method which I all Coach Mel’s Magic Loop! This technique is what I use in the video, I’m going to try to explain it with words so let’s see how it goes.
You want to start by laying your yarn on a flat surface, table, magazine, whatever you have handy where you are working. Now lay your yarn in a BACKWARDS figure 4 (if left-handed do a regular figure 4) with the tail of your yarn UNDER your working yarn making the downward portion of your 4. From there put your hook in the center of the 4, under the yarn, grab your working yarn and pull it up through the center with a little twist. Pick up the loop and do a quick chain to secure the loop. From here you are going to continue with the instructions which are the same for both techniques, making sure you are working around both the loop and the tail at the same time.
Let's go with round 1
Working inside your loop you are going to chain 2 to start. Next place 2 double crochets (dc) in the loop, chain (ch) 3 (this creates the corner), next is 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3 all in the loop. This now gets attached to the beginning but not to the chain, slip stitch (slst) to the top of the first dc. Now it’s time to close up the loop, give a tug on the tail until your loop closes up. Here is the only place there is a small difference between Technique 1 and Technique 2, 2 should be able to make the center hole a bit smaller. Now be certain not to pull too hard, and if you want to center to stay in place, put a knot in the tail up against the square. Cut your working yarn and pull through the loop on your hook. Ok, let’s move on to round 2.
Round 2
Typically each Round changes color on a Granny Square, that’s where it gets a lot of its character.
You will start Round 2 in a corner, where you did a ch 3. Put your hook through the space, grab your new color yarn and pull up a loop. Ch 2 followed by 2 dc in the same ch 3 space. We will now work along the side of the square. Ch 2, put 3 dc, ch 3, and 3 dc in the ch 3 space from the prior row (which is the corner and makes a new corner). This will always be the pattern in the every corner. Now continue that pattern, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc until you get back to the corner that you started at. To finish the round, 3 dc and ch 3 in the starting corner, slst to the 1st dc (over the ch 2) where you started the round.
Round 3 (and every other round)
Just like with round 2 you still start in a corner with a color change. Put your hook through the space, grab your new color yarn and pull up a loop. Ch 2 followed by 2 dc in the same ch 3 space. We will now work along the side of the square. Ch 2, put 3 dc, in the ch 2 space from the prior row, ch 2 and then move the to corner. 3 dc, ch 3, and 3 dc in the ch 3 space from the prior row. Now continue that pattern, ch 2, 3 dc, in ch 2 space (side) 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc until you get back to the corner that you started at. To finish the round, 3 dc and ch 3 in the starting corner, slst to the 1st dc (over the ch 2) where you started the round.
You decide how many rounds
You will now repeat the same pattern for as many rounds as you wish. You can make a complete afghan with this pattern, just keep going and going and going until it gets to the size you want. You can finish off each square with a row of single crochet by putting a sc in each dc, 2 sc in the ch 2 spaces and 3 sc in the ch 3 spaces. There will be a future post and video tutorial showing you how to attach the squares together. Click on the Facebook Logo to see the video tutorial.
Video Tutorial from Facebook Live
Here is the Traditional Crochet Granny Square Pattern
Ch 4 and slst to 1st ch OR make Coach Mel’s Magic Loop.
Round 1 – ch 2, 2dc, ch 3, * 3dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc ch 3, slst to 1st dc to complete round. You should have 4 clusters and 4 corners
Round 2 – change color, starting at a corner (ch 3 sp) pull up a loop, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, * 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 2, repeat from * in each ch 3 sp to beginning of round, finish with 3 dc, ch 3 and slst to 1st dc.
Round 3 – change color, starting at a corner pull up a loop, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, * 3 dc, ch 2, in ch 2 sp from prior row, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 2 in corner, repeat from * finish with 3 dc, ch 3 and slst to 1st dc
Repeat row 3 for as many rounds as desired. Remember, working along the straight side is a ch 2 and working in the corner is a ch 3.
Granny Square are a great way to use up left over yarn
Pull out those left over balls of yarn and get creative. These are quick and easy to make, they are a great project to throw in a bag and take with you if you know you are going to have time to sit and wait for something, like a Doctor’s appointment. Remember to grab a pair of scissor for your bag! Using a variegated yarn also a great way to add fun color to your project.